Compare towns
Ashby vs Candia vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Candia has the most expensive homes ($416k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashby | Candia | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
4,134Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.3±3.8Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$119,737±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Candia and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$415,600±$46kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Candia and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,213±$554 14% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #41 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Candia School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.